The comprehensive strategic relationship between Britain and
China is "better than ever," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
said Tuesday.
"Over the past few years we have seen a steady increase in
cooperation in some areas, and a quite dramatic change in others.
On trade, education or cultural exchanges we're working more
closely with China than ever before. And on international issues,
whether working together to resolve major conflicts or to tackle
climate change, we have a closer dialogue now than we have ever
had," Brown said in a written interview with correspondents of
Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily based in
London.
"But there's potential to take our cooperation to a higher
level, across a whole range of issues. That's why I'm visiting
China - and I look forward to discussing with Premier Wen and other
leaders and members of society how we can move forward," said Brown
who is going to pay his first visit to China on Jan. 18-20 as the
British prime minister.
Seeking his comments on Sino-UK cooperation in various fields
which has produced mutually beneficial results, Brown said, "Yes,
the benefits are enormous. I welcomed representatives of the UK
Chinese community to No. 10 (Downing Street) yesterday and was
struck by the huge range of contributions Chinese people, and
others with Chinese backgrounds, make to our multicultural
society."
But the benefits are also a case of hard economic fact, he said,
adding Britain is the largest EU investor in China and in total
China now exports more than the United States, so China is an
enormous market for key UK industries and services and "during my
visit we will announce new trade targets to reflect this."
Referring to what potentials the two countries could explore to
enrich bilateral cooperation, Brown said "China is the world leader
in manufacturing. Britain is a world leader in services and hi-tech
products. So our economies compliment each other well."
The British prime minister acknowledged that the UK and China
share similar challenges in pursuing sustainable development. He
said "I'm very interested in President Hu's 'Scientific Development
Outlook', and the emphasis on promoting not just high growth, but
balanced economic development with concern for the environmental
and social implications. I think that there's a great deal we can
do to work with China on that agenda. So while I am in China we
will be announcing cooperation on a range of initiatives, involving
academia, commercial expertise and local government."
On what concrete measures the two countries could take to
further expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various
fields such as culture, education, science and technology as well
as energy, Brown said "Well, we have more Chinese students than
ever before studying in the UK: over 75,000 last year. And I am
determined we should do all we can to increase educational
exchange. So we'll be announcing expanded exchange programs for
young people and graduates during my visit."
He said that the First Emperor exhibition at the British Museum
has been one of the most successful exhibitions ever in Britain,
and shows the huge interest in the UK in Chinese culture.
He said he is delighted that the largest ever festival of
Chinese culture in the UK -- China Now -- will open next month in
London.
About cooperation in science and technology, the prime minister
said Chinese researchers produce more joint research papers with UK
scientists than with any other European country, and the UK's
world-renowned Research Councils have now opened a joint office in
Beijing, so the two sides are doing a huge amount which will be
recognized during his visit.
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2008)
